Adjustable vertical louver system

ABSTRACT

An adjustable vertical louver system for providing privacy and wind deterrence when in a closed position, and allowing a free flow of air when in an open position. Louver slats are vertically disposed between a top support member and a bottom support member. The support members are secured to a permanent structure such as a house or wall member. One side of the slats is pivotally mounted between the support members. A draw bar is secured to one end of the louvered slats. A bracket is secured to the draw bar with opposite ends of a guy wire secured to the bracket. Pulleys are positioned on rigid extensions of the support members for providing a travel path for the guy wire. Movement of the draw bar enables the louver slats to be positioned between any opened and closed position. The slats can be moved to any desired position and are not displaced by gusts of wind due to spring loading of the guy wire.

United States Patent LaBrec Nov. 4, 1-975 ADJUSTABLE VERTICAL LOUVERPrimary Examiner-William F. ODea SYSTEM Assistant Examiner-Ronald C.Capossela [76] Inventor: Robert L. LaBrec 5428 Redlands Attorney, Agent,or Firm-Nilsson, Robbins, Bissell,

, Drive, San Diego, Calif. 92115 Dalgam Berlme [22] Filed: Nov. 25, 1974[57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl' 526566 An adjustable vertical louver system forproviding pri- Related US. Ap licati Dat vacy and wind deterrence whenin a closed position, [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 350,842, April 13,1973, f allowmg a free flow Open PO51 abandone tion. Louver slats arevertically dlsposed between a top support member and a bottom supportmember. [52] US. Cl. 98/107; 49/86; 49/88; The pp members are secured to3 Permanent 9g 40 v 98/121 A structure such as a house or wall member.One side of 51 Int. (:1. F24F 13/11 the slats is pivetally mwmed betweenthe pp 58 Field f Search 49 74 86 7 3; 93 10 members. A draw bar issecured to one end of the lou- 9 2 A, 40 V, 40 VM, 7; 160/344 veredslats. A bracket is secured to the draw bar with opposite ends of a guywire secured to the bracket. 5 References Cited Pulleys are positionedon rigid extensions of the sup- UNITED STATES PATENTS port members forproviding a travel path for the guy wire. Movement of the draw barenables the louver gldfe r 49/86 slats to be positioned between y openedand closed 3590900 7/1971 3 22: 160/344 X position. The slats can bemoved to any desired position and are not displaced by gusts of wind dueto FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Spring l i of h guy wire,

702,712 l/l941 Germany 49/88 4 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures U.S. PatentNov. 4, 1975 This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 350,842,filed Apr. 13, 1973 now abandoned.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The field of art to which the invention pertainsincludes adjustable privacy louver systems.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In areas where daily weathervariations occur, it is desirable to have an adjustable louver systemfor enabling the flow of air through a particular portion of the home oryard. Simultaneously, at other times of the day, such as late afternoonwhen a chill factor may prevent use of a yard or interior portion of thehome, it may be desirableto block the flow of air. While conventionaladjustable louver systems are well known, the individuallouver slats ofthe system are normally not securely positioned, and sudden gusts ofwind can displace the slats. It is possible for the wind to causedamageto both the area to be protected as well as to'the louver slatsthemselves. In addition, conventional louver systems may require arelatively complex adjustment system, which system can itself be damagedby the wind.

Known prior art includes US. Pat. Nos. 1,206,025; 1,589,057; 2,632,377;and 2,717,431.

The present invention provides an adjustable vertical louver systemwhich can be easily adjusted into one of a plurality of positions withthe louver slats remaining in the position chosen when large wind gustsoccur. The system. can be mounted with relative ease in any windowopening or fence. Adjustment of the louver slats from any one of aplurality of open positions to a closed position and vice versa isrelatively simple. The vertical louver system can be easily manufacturedat a relatively inexpensive cost. g

Specifically, the vertical louver system is formed of a plurality ofvertically disposed louver slats which are mounted on one side between apair of support members. A draw bar is secured to each of the louverslats. The louver slats may be adjusted from a closed to a plurality ofopen positions by the draw bar. A bracket is mounted on the draw bar andopposite ends of a guy wire are attached to the bracket. Pulleys arepositioned on extensions of the support members for providing a travelpath for the guy wire. The louver slats remain in a fixed positionagainst the force of wind gusts due to spring loading of the guy wire.

The advantages of the invention, both as to its construction and mode ofoperation, will be readily appreciated as the same becomes betterunderstood by reference to the following detailed description whenconsidered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which likereference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of thevertical louver sys' tem illustrated mounted between a pair of supportmembers; and

FIG. 2 is a side view taken along the line 22 of FIG. I in partialbroken away form, illustrating the mounting of the louver slats betweenthe support members.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, the verticallouver slats of the louver system are illustrated mounted between a pairof fixed members. It should be understood that these fixed members couldbe positioned on an exterior window of a home, or could be integrallymade as portions of a privacy fence of a yard. Further, the verticallouver system of the invention could be mounted in various parts of ahome or building.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a vertical louver systemconstructed in accordance with the principles of the invention. Thelouver system 12 is formed of a plurality of vertically mountedrectangular louver slats 14. Each of the rectangular louver slats 14comprises a top end 16, a bottom end 18, a pivotable side 22, and a freeside 24. The top and bottom ends 16 and 18, of each of the louver slats14, are mounted adjacent the pivotable side 22 between a top supportmember 26 and a bottom support member 28. Typically, the top and bottomsupport members 26 and 28, respectively, are permanently affixed to thetop and bottom surfaces of a window or fence by means of screws, bolts,or other conventional mounting devices (not shown). A pair of endsupport members 32 and 34 extend from each end, respectively, of the topsupport member 26 in the plane of the support member. A bottom sidesupport member 36 extends from one end of the bottom support member 28in the plane of the support member A drawbar 42 interconnects each ofthe louver slats 14 at the top end 16 adjacent the free side 24.Referring to FIG. 2, a swivel cup 44 is fastened into the top end ofeach of the louver slats 14 adjacent its free side 24. A swivel pin 48,secured to the drawbar 42, is inserted into an opening 46 in the swivelcup 44. Movement of the drawbar along its axis causes each of the louverslats 14 to swivel with respect to adjacent slats and each of the slats14 is positioned in parallel planes with respect to the other slats atall times.

A bracket 52 is secured to the center of the drawbar 42 by means ofscrews 54 or other conventional securing mechanisms. A pair of openings56 and 58 are formed in the bracket and the free ends of a guy wire 62are each tied to one of the bracket openings. The end of the guy wire 62in the opening 56 is wound around a first pulley 64 secured to the endmember 32 and then is wound around a second pulley 66 secured to the endsupport member 34. The guy wire 62 is then wound around a third pulley68. The pulley 68 is secured to a spring 72 fastened to the top surfaceof the end member 36. The guy wire then extends from the pulley 68 andis wound around a fourth pulley 74 secured to the end support member 34.The guy wire 62 then extends from the pulley 74 to the bracket opening58.

Normally, the guy wire is made of steel cable, having a low coefficientof expansion and contraction, so that the louvers will not move withchanges in temperature. In addition, due to the spring loading of theguy wire, should gusts of wind occur, the louvers will remain in theirfixed predetermined position. It should be understood that the choice ofspring tension can vary in accordance with normal sustained winds in agiven area where the system is to be mounted.

The pivotable side 22 of each of the louvered slats 14 is positionedbetween the top and bottom support members 26 and 28 in the mannerillustrated in FIG. 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, a mounting pin 80 is positioned in a bearingsleeve 82 in the top support member 26. The pin 80 is secured to thelouver slat top end 16 by means of a threaded surface 84. In addition, abearing spacer 86 can be positioned around a central portion 88 of thepin enabling relative movement between the louver slat top end 16 andthe top support member bottom surface.

The bottom support member 28 contains a pivot cup 92 formed adjacent thebottom end 18 of the slat. A post 94 is movable in an opening 96 in thecup 92. The post 94 is also secured to the louver slat bottom end 18.Normally, the post 94 is axially adjustable by means of a nut 98 so thatthe louver slat 14 can be positioned between the members 26 and 28. Thetightening of the nut 98 provides the desired degree of movement betweenthe support members and each of the slats 14.

Once the louver slats have been secured between the top and bottomsupport members 26 and 28, respectively, and the guy wire secured to thebracket 52, and fastened around the pulleys 64,66,68 and 74, movement ofthe louver slats 14 can be accomplished by either moving the drawbar 42at the bracket 52 or by pulling the guy wire. Once the position of thelouver slats has been set, little or no movement of the slats occurs.

A filler section 102 can be provided between the top support member 26and the bottom support member 28. The filler section is positioned inthe plane defined by the support members adjacent the intersection withthe end support members 32 and 34. When the louver slats 14 are pivotedin a plane parallel to the filler section 102, total closure isafforded. Further, rectangular bumper bars 104, 106 are provided betweenthe support members 26, 28 at each end thereof, to prevent the louverslats 14 from being rotated beyond the closure plane.

Additionally, a hand grip which can be attached in place of or to theguy wire could be utilized to move the louver salts to a desiredposition. Typically, such a devicecan be mounted at a higher level forthe convenience of adults as well as a safety factor to prevent childrenfrom moving the louver slats.

4 It should be noted that the present invention enables the louver slatsto be positioned so that when wind occurs, it can pass through thelouver slats and not cause the slats to move. In addition, the slatscould be closed to prevent wind movement through the area to beprotected by the louver slats.

I claim: 1. An adjustable vertical louver system, comprising: aplurality of vertically disposed louver slats each slat defined by a topend, a bottom end, a pivotable side, and a free side; a top supportmember and a bottom support member; pivot means adjacent the pivot sideof each of said slats for pivotally interconnecting said top supportmember and the top ends of said slats; pivot means adjacent the pivotside of each of said slats for pivotally interconnecting said bottomsupport member and the bottom ends of said slats; a drawbar spanningacross the top ends of said plurality of slats; I pivot means adjacentthe free side of each of said slats for pivotally interconnecting saiddraw bar and the top ends of said slats; and

means for adjusting the openings between said louver slats in a planeparallel to said drawbar in one of a plurality of positions, said meanscomprising guy wire attached to said drawbar, pulleys for providing atravel path for said guy wire, and a spring loaded pulley forming acontinuation of said guy wire path.

2. A louver system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said guy wire ismade of steel having a low coefficient of expansion and contraction.

3. A louver system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said louver slatsare movable to an infinite number of positions from a planeperpendicular to a plane defined by said support members, to a planeparallel thereto, said louvers forming a single plane and thereby aclosed surface when in a plane parallel to said support members.

4. A louver system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said adjustingmeans additionally includes a bracket centrally secured to said drawbarto which opposite ends of said guy wire are attached.

1. An adjustable vertical louver system, comprising: a plurality ofvertically disposed louver slats each slat defined by a top end, abottom end, a pivotable side, and a free side; a top support member anda bottom support member; pivot means adjacent the pivot side of each ofsaid slats for pivotally interconnecting said top support member and thetop ends of said slats; pivot means adjacent the pivot side of each ofsaid slats for pivotally interconnecting said bottom support member andthe bottom ends of said slats; a drawbar spanning across the top ends ofsaid plurality of slats; pivot means adjacent the free side of each ofsaid slats for pivotally interconnecting said draw bar and the top endsof said slats; and means for adjusting the openings between said louverslats in a plane parallel to said drawbar in one of a plurality ofpositions, said means comprising guy wire attached to said drawbar,pulleys for providing a travel path for said guy wire, and a springloaded pulley forming a continuation of said guy wire path.
 2. A louversystem in accordance with claim 1 wherein said guy wire is made of steelhaving a low coefficient of expansion and contraction.
 3. A louversystem in accordance with claim 1 wherein said louver slats are movableto an infinite number of positions from a plane perpendicular to a planedefined by said support members, to a plane parallel thereto, saidlouvers forming a singlE plane and thereby a closed surface when in aplane parallel to said support members.
 4. A louver system in accordancewith claim 1 wherein said adjusting means additionally includes abracket centrally secured to said drawbar to which opposite ends of saidguy wire are attached.